Iowa seems like a very simple state for workers’ compensation subrogation. Subrogation rights are set forth in a single statute – I.C.A. § 85.22. It provides that either the employee or employer can file a third-party action. When the third-party case is resolved, the carrier is entitled to first-money reimbursement and a future credit, less…
Every year approximately 76,000 pedestrians suffer injuries when they are struck by a moving vehicle. Beginning in 2016, America experienced a significant increase in the number of pedestrian fatalities, and in 2017 alone, there were nearly 6,000 pedestrian deaths in the U.S. Five states alone account for 43% of all pedestrian deaths—California, Florida, Texas, New…
Hector Salitrero, managing partner of Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, S.C.’s California office, will present a NASP webinar on Overcoming Obstacles to Workers’ Compensation Recovery on October 9, 2018 at 1 p.m. (EST). This webinar will help you understand, and hopefully avoid, some of the more common challenging issues in the workers’ compensation arena. Hector will share and demonstrate…
Everyone in Michigan is financially frustrated with the high price of automobile insurance. Recently, Detroit Mayor, Mike Duggan, along with eight other motorists filed a suit in U.S. District Court in an effort to expedite the elimination of Michigan’s no-fault system. The litigation comes as insurance premiums continue to rise, and after two bills were…
One day last month our firm received three separate, unrelated subrogation claim files involving serious personal injury, property damage, and a death resulting from tractor-trailers whose drivers had swerved to avoid colliding with a deer on the highway. In two of the losses, the 18-wheelers overturned and were shortly thereafter struck by other vehicles, resulting…
Where there’s smoke, there’s subrogation. At least it often works out that way. The adage is certainly true in the case of Gree dehumidifiers. If you have anything to do with property insurance, you have likely been exposed to multiple claims involving Gree dehumidifiers. It took 450 fires and nearly $20 million in property damage,…
The necessity of utilizing expert witnesses in claims adjusting, recovery investigation, and subrogation litigation has risen exponentially over the last 20 years. When an expert is necessary, where experts can be located and selected, and how they can be cost-effectively utilized so as to maximize subrogation recoveries remains a complex and expensive question for most…
Work Comp Third-Party Settlement Not Subject to Aitken Reduction In Arizona, a workers’ compensation carrier’s statutory lien under § 23–1023 is subject to being reduced if an employer is found to be negligent by a jury. In Aitken v. Indus. Comm’n of Ariz., 904 P.2d 456 (Ariz. 1995), cert. denied, 517 U.S. 1208, the Arizona…
Setting the Record Straight We are just as guilty as everyone else. Words matter, and in our industry, they are our tools. Therefore, using the right words would seem to be a priority. Making them up isn’t. Our firm reviews two to three dozen new claim files/catastrophic injury cases every day. We review these files…
Even non-standard auto insurers enjoy getting checks in the mail. The effective subrogation of Med Pay, PIP, UM/UIM, and collision claims by non-standard auto insurers means money coming into a segment of the insurance industry that historically has been much better at paying it out. The reasons this segment of the insurance industry has been…